Western Illinois University Alumna Part of National Touring Cast of ‘Summer: The Donna Summer Musical’
Western Illinois University alumna Nissi Shalome is realizing her theatrical dream after being named to the cast of the national tour of “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.”
Shalome, who received her BFA degree in musical theatre in 2019, landed the position of “swing,” which means she must learn the parts of six cast spots in case someone is unable to go on stage. There are three Donna Summer characters in the cast, the young “Duckling,” the older “Disco Donna” and the modern day “Diva Donna,” and Smith must learn the “Disco” and “Diva” Donna roles. The other positions she must
Nissi Shalome
memorize are four of the ensemble roles.
“This is right in my lane,” Shalome said of her part. ” I couldn’t ask for a more perfect show for my first experience being a swing. It’s going to be hard because I’m going to want to be on stage with them every night, but I’m so excited to step into the challenge of learning all the tracks, being ready to hop right in whenever they need me. I will be touring the country, seeing many cities I have never been to, doing what I love – it’s a dream come true.”
The national tour opens in November and runs through May 15, 2022. The closest performance is at the Sangamon Auditorium in Springfield, IL, Dec. 19.
At WIU, Shalome won the top prize in the musical theatre intensive category at the national Kennedy Center collegiate competition in 2018. The win gave her the opportunity to spend the summer at the Open Jar Institute in New York City attending theatrical workshops with industry representatives and to attend several Broadway productions.
While Shalome was finishing her senior year at WIU, she auditioned for “Duckling” Donna in the first part of the Donna Summer musical tour, but ultimately was not chosen and that tour was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since graduation, Shalome has been performing in a variety to theatrical productions, but the pandemic made that work more difficult. She also landed smaller parts in television and film in Chicago, including a Charles Dickens caroler in “Christmas Again” for the Disney network, which will air in December, and “The Chi” television show for Showtime.
“That was the hardest thing I’ve ever experienced,” she said of the pandemic. “I had just started making waves in the Chicago theatre scene, and I felt it was a good place I was creating for myself. I was sad and unmotivated, but I knew it was out of my hands.”
After spending several months waiting tables at an Olive Garden near her home, Shalome landed a job performing at the Timberlake Playhouse in Mount Carroll, IL this summer. She said it was a chance to get back on stage, performing in several lead roles.
During this time, a friend and fellow WIU alumna Hollyn Gayle reached out to her about the rescheduled Donna Summer musical tour. Shalome submitted a video, shot in her cabin at Timberlake Playhouse, and quickly received a call back to come to New York for additional auditions. With a lot help, love and support from friends and family, she went to New York City to audition for a variety of spots in the cast.
“I sang and read and I was scared because it was my first major callback,” she said. “But this is what I have my degree it and it’s like riding a bike; I trained for this and have confidence in what I have to offer. In my brain I knew they were going to offer me the swing position; someone who is ready to go on whenever. It’s gonna be a thing.”
The musical’s director told Shalome she had an amazing audition and that she would be hearing from them soon. It took just two days for a decision.
“After they had me sing and read for all three Donna’s I had a feeling that they were considering me to be a swing,” said Shalome. “This is the perfect show for me to swing for, because when I watched it on YouTube, I saw myself all over the stage in many roles. The Lord really does give you the desires of your heart.”
The Donna Summer musical was first performed on Broadway before the national tour was scheduled. Rehearsals for the musical’s tour begin Oct. 18 and the dates pick up where the COVID-shortened tour ended.
For more information about the tour, visit thedonnasummermusical.com. For more information about WIU’s Department of Theatre and Dance, visit wiu.edu/theatre.
